BANDS IN ACTION
The Earliest Known Pictures Of Jim Playing Live
from 1987 -
From a benefit show
at Harrisonburg High School in Harrisonburg, VA back in the spring of 1987,
including the first ever publication of a recently unearthed photograph with
first BOK lead guitarist Michael Johnson.
More Early Photographs from 1988 - From
another benefit show at Harrisonburg High School, in the spring of
1988. During this show, the core of the original Book Of Kills line-up -
Jim Shelley, Brian Temples, and Dustin Bugg - played for the first time but as
far as I know no pictures of that performance exist. What we have here
instead are a few pictures of Jim jamming before the show with Gary Bugg and
accompanying others on harmonica during the show
Book Of Kills at Trax,
February 12, 1995. A disastrous gig, but the best photos of the
"classic" BOK line-up.
The First
Casey and Jane Firkin Show, June 16, 2000. After just three weeks
of practice, Jim, Casey, Jane and Jason Hevener performed at the Little Grill.
It was a memorable debut.
Book Of Kills at The Little Grill, December 9, 2000.
Book Of Kills at Electric Blue, March 29, 2001.
2001 was a relatively busy year (as far as Book Of Kills shows go)
for BOK. Seems like folks were snapping photos of us everywhere we went.
That's a good thing. Here are four pix from one of two or three shows we
played at the defunct Electric Blue club in Waynesboro, VA.
Book Of Kills at The Little Grill, April 28, 2001.
The first show with Bill Bird on bass.
Book Of Kills at Tokyo Rose, May 18, 2001.
Tokyo Rose was one of my very favorite venues to play.
Book Of Kills at Main Street Bar & Grill, June 26,
2001. Caution! This page has some pretty large photographs!
Book Of Kills at Main Street Bar & Grill, July 10,
2001. We were almost the 'house band' at Main Street during the
summer of 2001, largely because we usually drew a good crowd during what was
traditionally a slow time for shows. Also, the manager knew that we'd play
whether or not he paid us.
Book Of Kills at Main Street Bar & Grill, August
18, 2001. I believe this was one of our best shows from 2001.
We were opening for some loser Van Halen tribute band and they and the venue's
owner treated us pretty much like dog crap that evening. We were pretty
angry by the time we went on and we always played best when we were angry.
This was the last time we played Main Street.
Book Of Kills at Ferrum College, April 13, 2002.
We played two shows on this day. One was a disaster. The other, an
impromptu two hour show later that afternoon using a make-shift P.A. and a wagon
as a stage, was one of BOK's legendary performances. Unfortunately, as far
as I know no photos exist of the second show. These are from the early
gig. Also, you can see some "promo" photographs.
Book Of Kills at The Little Grill, May 5, 2002. A really fun, if slightly deranged show.
Book Of Kills at The Outback Lodge, August 1, 2002. A really fun show.
Book Of Kills at The Walnut Grove Autumn Festival, October 5, 2002.
Book Of Kills at Alston's, February 1, 2003. One of BOK's "biggest" shows.
Book Of Kills at The Little Grill, February 22, 2003. A good, sloppy, high energy show.
Book Of Kills at The Outback,
July 3, 2003. A good show. I liked playing at the Outback.
Book Of Kills at The Sound Quilt Festival, August
23, 2003. This was the last ever show with Casey and Jane Firkin,
Randy Simpson, Bill Bird and Jim. Just three photos.
Book Of Kills at
The Little Grill, October 23, 2004. This was one of two shows the
"original" line-up from the mid-'90s played in 2004. Of course, this
wasn't technically the original line-up since Mike Chiarello was on lead guitar
(whereas Mike Johnson and George Finch) handled that duty in 1994-95.
Book Of Proles Practice, February
6,
2005. Before The Karl Rove became The Karl Rove, they were
the Book Of Proles. Here are a ton of pictures of the band having one of
their many very spirited practices. I doubt many groups ever had as much
fun practicing as did BOP/TKR.
Book Of Proles at The Pub, February 7, 2005. The first public gig for Aaron, Johnny, Casey and me. One of only two shows in which Casey drummed for us.
Book Of Proles at Captain Tee's, March 26, 2006. The second and final BOP show. Casey stepped down as the drummer after this gig. Photos by Deanne Good.
The Karl Rove at Better Than TV, March 30, 2006. This was the first (shaky) show that Jim, Aaron and Johnny played with new drummer Billy Hunt.
The Karl Rove at the Box,
April 20, 2006. I'll always recall this as a really fun show...perhaps
the Karl Rove's best. I've included a number of never-before-published
photos of the show (by Deanne Good.)
The Karl Rove at Main Street Bar & Grill,
October 7, 2006.
The Karl Rove at The Little Grill,
November 15, 2006. The show that led to the dissolution of the
band.
The
Karl Rove at The Satellite Ballroom, November 17, 2006. The final,
tension-fraught Karl Rove performance. Can't say I was glad it was
over...but, I was glad it was over.
The Return Of Book Of Kills, June 9,
2007. After a nearly four year absence, BOK returned in the form of Jeff
Lown, George Nipe and Jim for a one-off show at The Little Grill. This
concert eventually led to the formation of a new Plague Dogs line-up with Jim on
bass and later to one of the more celebrated BOK line-ups with Mike Hicks and
George Nipe.
The Plague Dogs at the Little Grill,
September 15, 2007. With Sleepfeeder and Buck Gooter. Photos
by Deanne Good.
The Plague
Dogs
at the Luray Metal Fest, May 3, 2008. Jim's final show with the 'Dogs.
"Promotional" Pictures By Jana Burtner, September
30, 2008. We wanted to get some photos of the band (George, Mike
and me) that we could use on fliers and posters and Jana Burtner was kind enough
to accommodate us.
Book Of Kills at Sonny's Place, March 14, 2009.
A good show, even though I was still recovering from a ravaging case of
pneumonia.
The
Rainbow
Hill Festival,
June 6, 2009. One of the most memorable of all BOK shows.
Book Of Kills
At The Blue Nile, October 8, 2009. A good show.
Book Of Kills At Clementines (The Benefit For Eddie),
October 23, 2009.
Former BOK drummer and great all around person Casey Firkin sat in on drums with
Teker, George and me for this show.
Halloween At The Bridge Theater,
October 31, 2009. Though technical problems plagued most of our
performance, we were very sharp that night.
The Final BOK Show, March 13, 2010.
Jim, George and Mike's final show. Not really the "final" show...from the
end of our run as a band we've made it no secret that we would get together once
or twice a year for a live show, if we could. Photographs by Amy Batman,
including some never seen before.
Fear + Whiskey At Bugg's Place, November 13, 2010. The debut of Fear +
Whiskey.
Fear
+ Whiskey Recording, December 22,
2010. Amy, Jeff and Jim hard at work recording three demo songs.
Fear
+ Whiskey At The Little Grill, March 4, 2011.
Amy, Jeff and Jim's first public gig.
Fear
+ Whiskey at The Earthday On The Greenway Festival,
April 23, 2011. Amy, Jeff and Jim play
Luray...as always a blast.
Fear + Whiskey at Bugg's Barn, June 23, 2011. The debut concert at
Bugg's Barn featuring Yarn!
Fear + Whiskey at The Blow Up The Moon Festival,
August 13, 2011. One of our better performances.
